Necropsy on Half Moon Bay whale begins

Researchers on Friday began cutting apart the carcass of a dead whale that washed ashore in Half Moon Bay, hoping a necropsy would reveal why the animal — believed to be a young humpback — died a premature death.

The roughly 30-foot whale was first spotted floating near Pillar Point Harbor on Wednesday. But wildlife experts weren’t sure waves would carry the dead animal to shore until early Friday when they found it grounded at Surfer’s Beach, according to the Marine Mammal Center.

Marine biologists with the California Academy of Sciences were expected to spend much of the day examining the whale and taking samples for research.

“It’s important to know what’s going on with these animals. It can help us understand what’s going on in the ocean,” said Sarah van Schagen, a spokeswoman with the Marine Mammal Center.

Humpback whales are common off the coast of Northern California this time of year. They migrate from warm southern waters to Alaska for the summer. But Humpbacks — unlike gray whales, which are commonly seen from shore — tend to swim farther out.

While it remains unclear how the humpback in Half Moon Bay died, researchers say the cause could range from infection to attack by killer whales.